12 Nabbed For Intimidating Rubber Smallholders

KUCHING, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Twelve people linked to secret societies have been detained for 60 days under the Emergency Ordinance 1969 for intimidating rubber smallholders, said Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohmad Salleh.

He this followed complaints from rubber smallholder in Sibu, Sarikei and Bintagor that gangsters had threatened to harm them if they refuse to sell latex to them at prices lower than the market price.

The individuals had been arrested before under "Ops Cantas Kenyalang" to weed out gang leaders and members in 2007, he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of duty of the Sarawak deputy police commissioner at the state police contingent headquarters on Wednesday.

Datuk Law Hong Soon took over as Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner from Datuk Hamza Taib, who had been appointed Sabah Police Commissioner.

On claims that gangsters have been extorting protection payments from swiftlet operators in central Sarawak, Mohmad said the police had not received such reports and urged operators, who had been intimidated, to come forward.

(Source: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=551963)